Tough contest is expected between ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan and Muhammad Usman Khan Tarakai on NA-12 Swabi-I after the boycott of Jamaat-e-Islami from the upcoming polls.
Though Muhammad Usman Khan Taraki having a rich family background and also cousin of District Nazim Swabi Shahram Khan but less influence in traditional politics of Swabi district, which has always remained a strong hold of Awami National Party after Charsadda.
After withdrawal of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Muhammad Usman Khan from election race, who won this seat in 2002 polls, it will give a clear edge to ANP President Asfandyar Wali Khan. For the first time Asfandyar Wali is contesting from two National Assembly seats NA-7 Charsadda-I and NA-12 Swabi-I.
In the 2002 general election the ANP did not get a single National Assembly seat, however three out of six seats of the provincial assembly were won by ANP candidates from district Swabi. The lone National Assembly seat of Swabi district was a confirm seat of the ANP and Abdul Khaliq Khan was elected from this seat in 1970 and 1988 elections.
However, it was won by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam in the 1990 polls but the ANP retained it in the 1993 and 1995 elections and Haji Rehman Ullah was elected from this seat.
The Swabiwal have special affiliations and unseen love with great freedom fighter Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Baacha Khan) and they actively participated in the Red Shirt Movement against the British rule. Whenever there was an issue Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan definitely come to Swabi and consulted his old comrades who were an asset for the movement.
The people of Swabi gave great sacrifices in the independence war against the British government and this time they would not disappoint the grandson of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan. This time the party workers convinced Asfandyar Wali Khan to contest from NA 12 Swabi-I as after Charsadda district Swabi district is the strong vote bank of ANP.
However, in the 2002 election, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ama (MMA) surprisingly swept the polls in the entire NWFP and like other parts it also won both the National Assembly seats and two provincial assembly seats from Swabi district. Muhammad Usman of Jamaat-e-Islami (MMA) had defeated ANP's Shehryar Khan by a big margin in 2002 polls.
In all 19 are in the race for NA-12 constituency. The Swabi Wal Group may secure some seats due to boycott of the elections by the Jamaat Islami, commented a local political activist. In all 40 candidates are in the run for two NA seats and 110 for the six provincial assembly constituencies from District Swabi. On NA-13 Swabi-II, PPP(S) has fielded Alhaj Fazle Wadud Khan, Pervez Khan Advocate of ANP, Naeem Khan of PPP, Maulana Khalil Ahmed Mukhlis of JUI (Haqeeqi), Maulana Attaul Haq Darvesh of JUI (F), Iftikhar of PML-(N) and Raziq Daud of Pakistan Awami Party.
There are great chances for the nationalist party (ANP) to regain its lost glory in Peshawar valley as the dismal performance of the MMA during last five years has disappointed their workers and the second reason is disintegration of the MMA. Electioneering is getting momentum after release of the final list of contesting candidates by the Election Commission of Pakistan and there will be some interesting contests on some seats.
Asfandyar Wali Khan has attracted some big gatherings after kicking his election campaign from Swabi and the estranged workers of ANP are again turning towards his meetings and busy in canvassing for their party.
Comments
Comments are closed.